Buxton: 1Stalybridge Celtic: 1

Buxton: 1Stalybridge Celtic: 1

Celtic did enough to take the three points, except go for the killer blow after getting their noses in front. That left an opening for Buxton to snatch a point at the death.

The first half was a cracking advert for non-league football, played at an unrelenting pace, with Celtic camped around the Buxton boxed for the opening fifteen minutes. Dan Cockerline went close twice with headers, the second attempt requiring a stop as Cockerline flicked in one of many excellent crosses from Douglas Nyaupembe. Scott Bakkor was also a thorn in the side for Buxton’s backline, forcing an early excellent stop from Rob Bruce. At the other end, Callum Chippendale tried his luck from twenty yards with a screamer that dipped and swerved in the wind, but Paddy Wharton kept a close eye on it, Nyaupembe and Chris Smalley both missed the target for Celtic, but the chance of the half came to Michael Howard, whose free kick had bend and pace, requiring Bruce to throw himself across the face of goal, getting just enough on the ball to tip it onto the bar. Buxton also had one excellent chance in the half, right at the end, former Celt, James Dean, flicking Kayde Coppin’s cross over Whaton and back off the bar for the defence to clear.

The second half started more sedately, Callum Chippendale twice going close with drives from distance, the second palmed around the post at full stretch by Wharton. Howard was again at it from the free kick, this time bending it the other way around the wall, the save from Bruce had to be good. It wasn’t Bruce’s save of the match, however, he saved that for Liam Tongue, who nipped in onto Nyaupembe’s shot, diverting it the other way to Bruce’s motion. The Buxton keeper twisted and denied Tongue at close range.

There was a goal coming, and it came when Andy Scott took apart Buxton’s defence with a skipping run to the touchline and along it, before picking out Glenn Rule at the back post for a tap in, which he duly did, with Bruce stranded, however, Alex Brown slid a long leg out to block the shot almost on the line, the ball coming to Scott Bakkor who made no mistake, firing the ball into the roof of the net.

Celtic had twenty minutes until the final whistle, but again, like against Marine, did not go for the killer goal, instead attempting to ride out a single goal win. And again, like against Marine, Celtic paid the price. The back line made one mistake all game, and that was not to get the ball clear early in five minutes of stoppage time. Brad Grayson was the lucky recipient, racing through and firing past Wharton to equalise for the home side.

There was still time for Celtic to get a final corner, but it was well defended and a draw was the result.

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